To the Editor:

I have been watching with frustration as the State Senators for St. Lawrence County refuse to even bring the motion of increased sales tax to the Senate Floor in Albany.

I understand that these two well meaning individuals ran on a platform of no new taxes, and that cutting mandates (especially unfunded mandates) is the answer to solving the fiscal woes of this county, but our county needs more immediate help.

I also watch with equal frustration the leadership within the county, try to serve the vast and varied populace without increasing taxes on the property owners throughout the county.

I realize that the economy is stagnant, or in a state of slow or no growth and that the perception is that the already impoverished cannot afford to spend any more of their dollars on taxes.

However, the County is now cutting programs, or is in the process of discussing cutting programs that serve the most at risk, the indigent of our populations, the most needy.

I personally would much rather pay 4% county sales tax if it would mean that the elderly in our population are afforded warm meals on a daily basis, that newborn babies are visited by a trained nurse, that the handicapped in our population are provided access to education, and that those who really need services such as HEAP, food stamps and WIC are provided those benefits.

On a $100 sale, the sales tax is currently $7, with an increase of 1%, it would be $8, and our leaders are saying that this extra $1, which nobody over time would even notice, would save county benefits for those who need them most.

Do I worry that an increase in revenue could be misspent, or foolishly spent, of course, but I believe that our leaders have seen the stark reality of a massive deficit and would spend the increased revenues to best serve the people of our county.

However, this isn’t possible if our state senators refuse to bring the issue to the Senate floor to be voted on.

I realize they ran on a platform of no new taxes, but what about the property owners in the county that are already over taxed on three or four levels depending on the municipality they live in?

The sales tax is the least painful tax, affects every citizen the same and the burden is equally shared among property owners and non-property owners.

If you, like me, would prefer to see the sales tax increased instead of the county overriding the tax cap and increasing your property taxes, I urge you to communicate this sentiment to Senator Ritchie and Senator Griffo. St. Lawrence County has the lowest sales tax rate of combined 7 percent of any North Country county, and one of the lowest in the state.

Yes, the long-term answer is mandate relief, but that could take years to institute or see any real savings from, increasing the sales tax is a more immediate answer, and a much-needed solution.

Brenda Thornton

Potsdam